Israel Katz, Israeli Minister of Transportation and Intelligence, has presented an operational plan. No matter how well marketed and packaged, this plan should be opposed because of its tremendous negative impact on human rights. Katz’s proposal aims to relocate a significant portion of Gaza’s population to designated areas, which critics argue may constitute crimes against humanity.
In many ways, the announcement of this plan comes at an opportune moment. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is preparing for his own high-stakes meetings in Washington, D.C. Katz’s plans – as they refer to humanitarian areas established for Palestinians – are about ensuring they are nowhere near Israeli cities. He declared that these camps would house temporary housing for people displaced by the storm. As a result, it has left out critical details that have raised major concerns from humanitarian organizations and legal experts.
Katz warned that Palestinians would be subject to “security screening” before entering or hosting an Israeli in these joint camps. Once onboard, they would not be allowed to disembark. This new element of the plan has understandably raised the most ire. It raises alarming implications for potential indefinite detention and curtailment of freedom for resettled persons.
The overall goal of Katz’s proposal is to force the entire population of Gaza into the Rafah humanitarian zone. Assuming he plans to establish a new base on the remains of Rafah, he has already ordered Israel’s military to prepare. According to UNRWA, this new camp will shelter some 600,000 Palestinians, most of them displaced internally in the al-Mawasi area. Israeli military forces will maintain control over the perimeter of this highly controversial site. This adds more questions around the safety and freedom of movement for displaced people.
Katz’s plan would be about $2 billion, and it’s said to have the United States’ support. So far, it is being rolled out under the auspices of the controversial US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). Critics contend that this initiative is more than just an advanced logistical operation. They describe it as a systematic population transfer campaign.
Michael Sfard, a prominent Israeli human rights lawyer, condemned the plan, stating, “laid out an operational plan for a crime against humanity. It is nothing less than that.” He further explained that the plan appears to facilitate “population transfer to the southern tip of the [Gaza] Strip in preparation for deportation outside the strip.” These statements reflect a fear that runs much deeper. Most view this new plan as an attempt to permanently alter the demographic character of Gaza.
Prof. Amos Goldberg, an expert in conflict studies, shared his concerns. Above all, he questions the practicality of any life inside the camps he the government is proposing. He noted, “There are a lot of hospitals, education [like] schools, universities and administrative offices. This is the opposite of what they intended. It will be the opposite of a livable environment, just as the current so-called ‘safe areas’ are an unlivable environment. His remarks underscore the large-scale, man-made humanitarian disaster that looms if these camps are unable to offer basic necessities of life.
Goldberg asked about the backlash that Israelis would receive from Palestinians who would be displaced—probably violently—from their homes. He queried, “What will happen if the Palestinians will not accept this solution and revolt, because they are not completely helpless?” The seriousness of this concern further highlights how uncertain the effects of such a dramatic policy shift would be.
Katz’s vision includes not only immediate relocation efforts but a long-term strategy to manage Gaza’s population under strict Israeli control. Following this plan’s announced implications, the debate over potential ethnic cleansing and violation of international law has encouraged public discourse.
Human rights groups and international watchdogs have laid condemnation to these advances piled high. They are calling for urgent oversight and accountability for Israel’s actions in Gaza. With tensions on the rise, the international community is watching events unfold to see how the situation continues to develop. They understand that any Palestinian forced relocation would severely undermine regional peace, stability, and security.